Yertle the library turtle to be honored

For 30 years, Yertle the Turtle has called the Eastern Monroe Public Library in Stroudsburg her home. That means a "Shell-a-bration" is in order for the library's mascot.

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By MELANIE VANDERVEER

poconorecord.com

By MELANIE VANDERVEER

Posted Jun. 6, 2013 at 12:01 AM

By MELANIE VANDERVEER

Posted Jun. 6, 2013 at 12:01 AM

IF YOU GO:

WHAT: Yertle the Turtle's Shell-a-bration!

WHEN: 1 to 5 p.m., Thursday, June 27

WHERE: Eastern Monroe Public Library, 1002 No. Ninth St. Stroudsburg

HOW MUCH: Free (food at a c...

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IF YOU GO:

WHAT: Yertle the Turtle's Shell-a-bration!

WHEN: 1 to 5 p.m., Thursday, June 27

WHERE: Eastern Monroe Public Library, 1002 No. Ninth St. Stroudsburg

HOW MUCH: Free (food at a cost)

FOR MORE INFORMATION: 570-421-0800, or monroepl.org.

» Social News

For 30 years, Yertle the Turtle has called the Eastern Monroe Public Library in Stroudsburg her home. That means a "Shell-a-bration" is in order for the library's mascot.

From 1 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 27, an event to celebrate the milestone of Yertle's 30 years at the library will be held inside and outside of the library on Route 611 in Stroudsburg.

Yertle's tank is housed in the children's section of the library where she gets plenty of visitors everyday. And being the outgoing turtle that she is, she loves every second of it.

"She's very used to people," said Julie Bonser, head of youth services at the Eastern Monroe Public Library. "A few years ago, Karen Lucrezi found a wild wood turtle in the middle of the road and the wild wood turtle was afraid, but Yertle is always raring to go."

Lucrezi, a library assistant, helps to keep Yertle healthy and happy. Lucrezi even brings Yertle home every now and again so she can get some exercise.

"I try to take her home once in a while and let her walk around, because she is an athletic turtle and likes to travel," said Lucrezi. "I was surprised at how much walking she does. If I can get her out for a couple of hours, she's in better physical shape. I have a tiny pond at home for frogs, and she enjoys that."

While no one is completely sure of Yertle's age, she was full grown when she arrived at the library in 1983. Library employees guess that she's at least 35 years old or older, and since wood turtles can live to be about 60 years old, she's got quite a few more years entertaining library visitors.

"It was July 1983 when Yertle came to live at the library. The children's librarian at the time, Marie Catudal, lived in a woodsy area and her dog brought her Yertle in her mouth. She thought it would be a sturdy pet to have at the library," said Bonser. "I remember Yertle when I was a child. They used to let her roam free in the kids' department. We have a lot of adults come to visit Yertle, because they remember her when they were younger."

The event to celebrate Yertle the turtle will include games, arts and crafts, toddler play area, food, live music by Pete Tawney and the Juggernaut String band, therapy dogs and pony rides in the parking lot, if the weather permits.

"This is the first big program centered around Yertle," said Bonser. "When we realized it would be her 30th anniversary, we decided we had to do something for the milestone."

To further honor Yertle's big milestone, the library has been doing a few fun things leading up to the event.

"We have had a few different things. Traveling Yertle is where people can check out a cardboard cutout of Yertle and take pictures of Yertle out and submit the pictures. We'll display the pictures at the event," said Bonser. "We've also had kids write letters and draw pictures for Yertle. We'll display those as well."

Yertle will even make a special appearance at the "Shell-a-bration" at 3:30 p.m. so everyone can get a good look at her and congratulate her on her 30 years of making children smile.